Some Parasitic Diseases of Dolphins

Abstract

Lungworm infection ( Halocercus sp.) in the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus) was found to be very common in animals captured from the wild and in those raised within an aquarium. Infection of the Amazon dolphin ( Inia geoffrensis) with Hunterotrema caballeroi causes pulmonary atelectasis. An unidentified holotrich ciliate was found in the blowholes of over 50% of the animals examined and was responsible for a purulent pneumonia in 1 instance. Hepatic and pancreatic trematodiasis which caused interstitial fibrosis occurred frequently in T. truncatus; the trematode was identified as Campula palliata. Pholeter gastrophilus, a trematode, results in the proliferation of a tumorous mass of fibrous tissue in the wall of the stomach. The sclerotic tissue surrounds cavities containing parasites and ova.